Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and China have signed a significant agreement to establish an intermodal cargo terminal at the Port of Baku in Alat. The announcement was made on November 12, on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), according to reports from Astana News.

Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, shared details of the project, highlighting that the new terminal will feature a multi-purpose cargo yard, an indoor warehouse complex spanning 5,000 square meters, and a container yard capable of holding over 1,000 containers.

This major development has been facilitated through Azerbaijan’s provision of a land plot, operating berths, and terminal facilities within the Port of Baku at Alat, as reported by the Astana Times. The Port of Baku plays a vital role in bridging Europe and Asia, positioning itself as a key transportation and logistics hub across Eurasia.

According to the official website of the Port of Baku, the port serves as an essential link within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, with a modern operational system that enables efficient cargo handling. The port is designed to handle all cargo types and continues to uphold rigorous environmental standards. In 2019, it became the first in the Caspian region to earn the “Eco Ports” certificate from the European Sea Ports Organisation and later renewed this certification in 2021. In addition, the Port of Baku joined the UN Global Compact in 2022, aligning its activities with 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The primary objective of the new terminal is to increase container train traffic along the China-Europe-China route through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This project is expected to significantly reduce delivery times, cut transportation costs, and improve trans-shipment efficiency, as observed by the Astana Times.